Medical school to offer degree in radiation therapy technology

Beginning this year, the Wayne State University School of Medicine will award undergraduate degrees in radiation therapy technology. The program was transferred from the College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions to the radiation oncology department in the medical school. This transfer facilitates joint teaching efforts and other collaboration between the graduate and undergraduate programs and streamlines communications among the academic and clinical faculty and the students.

Radiation therapists serve as essential members of the radiation oncology team by administering the radiation oncology treatments and assisting in their planning under the direction of the radiation oncologist.

"The administrative and physical merger into radiation oncology provides advantages for everyone involved," said Diane Chadwell, assistant professor and program director. "Because of our new location, the faculty have been able to modify the curriculum to include more tours, demonstrations and short-term rotations in select Detroit Medical Center/Karmanos Cancer Institute clinics. The students and faculty are equally excited about these enhancements."

When the radiation therapy technology program was established in 1976, it was the nation's first program to be accredited as a baccalaureate program. With this transfer, it has become the only bachelor of science degree offered through the School of Medicine.